‘We were once paid $50 to quit’: new wave heroes Devo on boos, Bowie and retiring after 50 years

And while Devo may be saying farewell to touring, it’s not entirely the end. A new box set of rarities, Art Devo 1973-1977, is coming in September along with a documentary in production by Tiger King director Chris Smith. However, there’s no sloppy sentiment about retiring from performing from Mothersbaugh. “I’m looking forward to 2073,” he jokes. “We’ll play 100th anniversary Devo shows and then maybe retire.”

Casale, however, is more mournful. “I’m in denial,” he says softly. “Because I love performing and I’ll hate to see it go. It was part of Devo’s DNA. But we did as well as we could, for as long as we could.”

Archived version: archive.ph/KiXMq